Search - Jackson Heights :: King Progress

STOP THE LEE JACKSON BASHING !!!!!!

Robert J. Salo | Anaheim Hills , Ca United States | 04/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"All I ever read about the Nice is how everyone complains about Lee Jacksons singing. I LOVE his vocals (usually). They are authentic and not at all phoney or processed sounding. Check out "Someday" from Refugee, or "Cry Of Eugene" from this album. Or the daunting: Ars Longa Vita Brevis (and you all know what THAT means). Also, if it weren't for Lee Jackson, everybody would still be trying to sound like Paul McCartney. He had that "new" tone before Greg Lake or Chris Squire. I am a true Lee Jackson fan and "King Progress" is an outstanding album not at all like anything the Nice ever did. Sometimes it sounds like Genesis, sometimes like Yes (sort of) from around the same time period. Lee Jackson plays acoustic guitar and harmonica on this album. At 37 minutes its not that long but it is VERY GOOD. A great album to put on for non-critical background listening. After a while you'll find yourself looking forward to hearing it. It never sounds dull or old. Always refreshing to hear as is it different than most anything I have heard. Jackson Heights went through some personnel changes with each release until Lee Jackson recruited Patrick Moraz to join up. That became "Refugee" and the rest is history. "King Progress" is the bands first album (1970) and the other releases are hard to find indeed. But now , through the wonders of the "re-issue" - this album can be had by anybody who wants to hear something new, from a long time ago."

"KING PROGRESS," A FANTASTIC ALBUM INDEED!

David Bebernick | Warren, Michigan United States | 06/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hey Robert, you said in your review, "Stop the Lee Jackson bashing!!!!" I will drink to that comment! It seems that every website that I go to about the Nice, everyone has to tear Keith 'Lee' Jackson's voice to shreads. Why? What's the reason? He's got a great voice & it is very authentic. Not like today's singers (Most singers either try to be a poser of somesuch, add plastic soul to their voice, emulate the Cookie Monster, or just can't sing at all!). It's a damn shame that Jackson Heights didn't gain popularity in the early 1970's, but mind you, this is coming from a 27 year old that 'shouldn't be listening to this time period of music.' I'm a big fan of the Nice (the real true innovators of Progressive Rock, not ELP) & I enjoy Lee Jackson's bass playing when he was with Keith Emerson & Brian Davison. On Jackson Heights, he switches to acoustic guitar & for the short time of him playing the guitar, he isn't bad at all! When listening to this album "King Progress," there are, to me, hints of early Gordon Lightfoot (say his third album), but this is the same style that Lightfoot would incorporate in his later work in the mid 1970's, though Lightfoot had more of a country feel. This album also beats the 'So-Cal' sound by two years (they say the Eagles, Jackson Browne, & the other So-Cal bands were groundbreaking when they first came out, yeah right!). Though it has Gordon Lightfoot textures, & the "So-Cal" sound before it came out, the sound, the focus, the execution, & the musical delivery is all Jackson Heights. Jackson Heights had a rock 'n' roll feel to it. "Mr. Screw," is a great opener to this album. The acoustic beginning to that song almost sounds like "Beginnings" by Chicago in a way. The song that sold me was "Sunshine Freak" for I just love the melody to that tune, wonder why that song wasn't a radio staple back then? "Doubting Thomas" is a 'good old folk song' with Lee on harmonica. Listen to belly slaps on this tune! My advice, if you love the Nice, you'll like this album. The only problem I have with this album is that it's under 37 Minutes & could've added one more tune, but that's alright. Buy this CD, it will be money well spent."